Presenting the Data

Figures and tables are essential tools to summarize data and present them to the reader. There is a large variety of figures, plots, tables, and graphs to choose from. There are various considerations to select the best way to display a dataset, clarity for the reader being of the utmost importance. All artwork must present the information in a truthful manner, so that the reader will draw the correct conclusions. While graphs are more suitable for conveying information in an easily understandable manner, tables are best for giving unprocessed information such as numbers or lists. The captions for each graph or table contain the information the reader needs to understand the artwork. There are a number of tools to impart the precision and the statistical significance, for example error bars. The combination of figure or table and its caption must be an independent piece of information which the reader can understand without further explanation.